(15, WA, USA) Anonymous - Dusk

My parents often told me growing up that I was not allowed to go outside at night because it was too dark. That famous line has always been presented to me and thousands of other kids my age as well. Dusk is misinterpreted as unsafe, but the root cause is the people who make it unsafe. For those who dare to embrace it, the night reveals peace and profound beauty. In truth, the night resembles rest; it offers protection and gives people a chance to escape the fast-paced hardships and stress of the day. The beauty of the night reminds me that endings are also beginnings and that everything must come to an end at some point.

I think about how nighttime is essential. Everything happens for a reason. Everyone has a different story and point of view, which emphasizes the diversity of our nature. For some animals, nighttime is the equivalent of daytime for us. Do those animals fear the day? It proves to me that it’s just what we know and what we have experienced ourselves. We all have fears and things that provoke them, whether they are experiences or generational stories. At the end of the day, we should acknowledge that the day offers opportunities, and the night offers rest.